𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 ও benny rodriguez

1.

𝟔.𝟏𝟐.𝟏𝟗𝟔𝟐

"𝙽𝙸𝙰𝙷!"

"Get down here!" My mom's voice echoed from downstairs. With a groan, I peeled myself off the bed, my body heavy with sleep. My eyes fluttered open slowly, taking in the new, white walls of my room, accented by a light gray feature wall.

I glanced at my clock—it read 11:23 AM. I'd managed to doze off again after I originally woke up around 7 AM, but now my mom was calling for me. I scowled and dragged myself out of bed, my feet hitting the floor with a soft thump as I descended.

But before I could even make it out of my room, my older brother Maverick appeared in the doorway, a mischievous grin plastered on his face. "Morning, sleepyhead," he teased, leaning against the doorframe.

I rolled my eyes. "What do you want, Maverick?"

He shrugged, his grin widening. "Just wanted to remind you that Mom's been calling you for like, five minutes. You might want to get down there before she gets really annoyed."

"Thanks for the heads-up," I muttered, pushing past him. He ruffled my hair as I went by, earning a glare from me. "Cut it out."

"Just being a good big brother," he chuckled, following me down the hall.

"Yeah, right," I shot back, making my way downstairs, my footsteps thumping with each step.

"Yeah, Mom?" I asked, curiosity piqued. It wasn't lunchtime yet, so there had to be another reason she called. The smell of sizzling bacon wafted through the air, making my stomach rumble. I wandered through the living room into the kitchen, a frown still lingering on my lips.

In the kitchen, I found my mom at the stove, a spatula in her hand as she expertly flipped bacon. She glanced over her shoulder at me, then set the spatula down, her face lighting up with a warm smile.

"Hey, honey," she greeted me. "Just wanted to check in. How are you doing?"

My expression softened, a small smile curling my lips. "I'm okay, just really tired," I admitted, letting out a small sigh as my eyes drifted to the floor.

She hummed thoughtfully, nodding. The sound of bacon sizzling filled the brief silence between us. "I see. Well, I think you should explore the neighborhood a bit before lunch," she suggested, her eyebrows raising slightly.

The idea didn't sound too bad. "I mean, why not? I'm just a little tired, though," I said, glancing at the bacon bubbling in the pan.

"Well, maybe a little fresh air will wake you up," she replied, her grin widening. My mom was always this optimistic and cheerful—it was rare to see her anything but happy.

"Okay, okay, yeah. I'll get ready and head out," I chuckled, turning on my heels and heading back to my room to prepare for the day.

My name is Niah Pierce. I'm 14 years old, stand at 5'1", and have a dimple on the left side of my cheek. I have black hair, highlighted with brown strands, and dark brown eyes. Originally from the vibrant city of Honolulu, Hawaii, I have recently moved to San Fernando, California, and left all of my friends and the home I grew up in. I live with my Mom, Dad, and older brother, Maverick. 

I find solace in my hobbies—reading, softball, soccer, and basketball. Although soccer has become my passion, I started out playing softball, and there's something about the crack of the bat that still excites me. I'm determined to make the most of this summer, even if it means starting over.

I stepped out of my room, dressed in a basic white long-sleeve shirt and denim shorts. The golden Cattleya necklace around my neck glinted as it caught the light. My white PF Flyers, slightly scuffed from the move, completed my outfit.